Printing device



All@ 4, 3936. w. T. GOLLWITZER l 2,049,437

PRINTING DEVICE Filed Deo. 2e, 1933 24i s 40- 2,2 /ja 22 57 50 43 M q 43HQ. 8 /a 52 bww/vbo@ @Mouw/134 Patented ug. 4, 1936 naar PRINTINGYDEVICE Walter T. Gollwitzer, Cleveland, Ohio, assigner to AddressographCompany, Cleveland, Ohio, .a corporation of Delaware ApplicationDecember 26, 1933, Serial No. 703,899

20 Claims.

This invention relates toa printing plate provided with an improvedmeansfor retaining an index tab, as well as an index card. Preferably,the printing characters are embossed directly on l the plate. Y

An object of this invention is to provide retaining means for the taband card, so arranged that, though one surmounts the other, the positionof one will not interfere with the operation of the other. Heretoforethe tab and the card, if one surmounted the other to save space, have sointerfered with each other that they caused a mutual binding andrendered a removal of either one from the plate difficult. Further, thecard on being placed in the plate often buckled out of the retainingledges on coming intofcontact with the tab previously placed therein. Myinvention provides retaining means for the card which is independent ofthe retaining means for the tab, so that nobinding may be set up betweenthe two and one may be moved without interference from the other.

A further object of my inventionV is to provide means for retaining ametal-tab member in the Vplate securely, and also to allow its readyremoval when desired. This new tab retaining means overcomes thedisadvantages of the old ones, which either prevented ready removal ofthe tab or card, or, in the other extreme, fitted so loosely that thetab was not firmly held.

It is desirable to have as compact and as flat a .plate .as possible,and one of the objects of my invention has been to attain thatstructure.

Other specific objects of the invention will become more apparent fromthe following description, which refers to a preferred form of Aholderillustrated in the accompanying drawing, the novel vfeaturesoi whichwill b-e set forth in the claims.

Referring now to the drawing, Fig. l. is a View of the printing deviceshowing the non-printing face and illustrating the index card as it isbeing insertedor removed; Fig. 2 is a View of the reverse side; Fig. 3illustrates one form of tab which may be used in the plate; Fig. 4 is aplan of a portion of the rear face visible in Fig. 2, and shows, in moredetail, the tab retaining means and the tab therein; Fig. 5 is a partialtransverse section throughthe plate as indicated by 5 5 on Fig. 1; Fig.6 is a similar section, with the index card and tab removed; Fig. 7 is apartial transverse section, as indicated by 'I-'l on Fig. l; Fig. 8 is alongitudinal section through the plate, as indicated by 3-3 0n Fg- 1-VWhile Fig. 1 shows .that face of the device (Cl. 'L29-16.8)

which is usually on the underside during the printing operation and isusually vertical when the devices are stacked in a storage drawer, it ismost convenient in vdescribing the construction to assume that thedevice lies horizontally with 5 the face of Fig. 1 uppermost. In thisposition the device includes a ilat metal plate lo having a face l l inwhich the printing characters l2 are embossed downwardly, while there isa depressed region lil of the plate which is formed with re- 10 tainingmeans for the tab and card. The tab I5 is retained in keepers i6 in thedepressed region. The index card l1 lies on top of the keepers Il and atone edge under a 4turned-over edge i9 of the plate and at the other edgebeneath projections 2E! in theaplane of the plate. This is illustratedin cross-section in Fig. 5.

y The card is intended to furnish a readily visual indication as to whatis embossed on the plate. To accomplish this any suitableprinted matteror characters may be placed thereon. The twoV card retaining edges i9and 2l! exten-d substantially the entire width of the plate, althoughthe edge 2@ is interrupted into a series of projections to provide fordownwardly turned strip portions 36 of the plate hereinafter described.At its ends, the metal plate is preferably turned over to providetransverse ribs 22, which not only stiien the platebut areused askguides when the plate is fed along the printing bed intoprinting'position. 30

The retaining means for the tabI l5 is placed below the card index, asshown in Figs. 5 and 6.

In general, this retaining means comprises the raised keeper i6 and twolower portions 2d and 25. The tab l 5 is adapted to lie under the former35 member and above the two latter members, as shown in. Fig. 5. It isdesirable that ,the portions 25 lie at an angle of approximately vedegrees to the face of theplate, for a purpose that will hereinafter bedescribed. It is at once apparent that while the under face oftheportion l5 retains the tab, the upper face of the same member acts tosupport the card index. By the interposition of this member between thetab and the index, it is impossible for the one to interfere with thepositioning of the other.

The tab retaining portions of the plate are sho-wn as being spaceduniformly apart along the recess lll. Fig. 'l shows the shape of theplate at the intermediate section between the two retaining portions.Thus, the iiat portion ll drops almost vertically downward, as indicatedby 3G, to the slightly :inclined bottom 25. The plate then forms aninverted Vchannel 3l, and again a bottom portion 24, this timehorizontal. A section 33 55 then rises abruptly to the overhangingportion I9, terminating at the edge 2 I.

By the described form of structure, it is possible to fashion the entireplate of one piece of material. 35 indicates the sides of the keepers I6where they join with the inverted channel 3|. For the purposes, both ofstructural necessity and to allow the admission of the tab l5, theportions 30, 3| and 33 do not extend longitudinally completely acrossthe address plate, but have intermittent breaks or openings 36 in theircontinuity for the purposes of receiving the shank of the tab.

At one end of the depression |4, the bottom surface thereof iscompletely severed from the top surface II of the plate, as indicated at40, to provide an opening for the insertion of the index card |1, whichis passed into place rst beneath the rib 22, then through the opening40. then behind the edges 2|! and 2|. At the other end of the depressionI make a diagonal severance 31, which allows the plate surface to extendover the corner of the index card and prevent it curling up. The slottedend 31 being at an angle leaves a connected portion 4| between the baseof the' depression and the top surface Il, which acts as a stop to limitthe movement of the card index. The regions of severance 4i) and 31 arealso useful in aiding the stamping of the plate without unduedistortion.

Heavy paper or card board is ordinarily used for the index card, andthis card must be bent to a certain extent to enter the slot 40 and atthe same time pass over the rib bottom 43, which is raised slightlybeyond the bottom plane of the plate II, as shown in Fig. 8. When thecard is completely within the recess and past the slot 40, it againassumes a fiat shape and locks itself within the recess by abutting theplate-like portion forming one end of the slot. For removal, the endportion of the card is merely manually depressed to free it from suchslot end and then Withdrawn.

The index tab I5, as heretofore mentioned, is suitably retained in anyof the keepers in the address plate. Not only is it necessary that thetab be retained in the plate, but it is desirable that it be firmly heldand at the same time be rendered easily removable. In Fig. 3, I show apreferred form of index tab to be used. The tab comprises three mainportions. A wide, flat gripping portion 50, a narrower portion 5| toengage the sides of the pockets and a tongue 52 to aid in locking thetab in the pocket. One or both faces of the portion 55 may be knurled topermit a ready grip on the tab, as desired. Where the portion 50 meetsthe portion 5|, transverse edges 53 perpendicular thereto, are formed.These edges abut the address plate at the sides of the keeper containingthe tab, to limit its movement into the keeper. This is shown in Fig. 4,where a tab is in position.

The tab to be placed on the plate is slid through the aligned openings36 associated with each keeper until it lies under the keeper I6 andabove portions 24 and 25, at which point the tab edges 53 will abut theplate as at 54, Fig. 4. As heretofore mentioned, the plate portion 25 isinclined at an angle of approximately ve degrees to the general plane ofthe plate in such way that the tab first engages the lower portion ofthe so-formed incline and is distorted upwardly as it slides along theface thereof. The keeper I6 has a projection V51 extending downwardlytherefrom to engage the tab as it is slid in under it. This downwardlyfacing projection is located in the center with respect to the longdimension of the keeper I6 and near the lower edge with respect to thenarrow dimension. 5

When the tab is slid into the pocket, the end of the portion 5| isguided upwardly along the inclined portion 25 and bends the tab. Thepoint of fixture of the tongue to the tab is so located that .as the endof the portion 5| is inclined up- 10 wardly, it tends to force thetongue 52 downwardly. At the same time, the projection 51 bearsdownwardly on the tongue 52 to force it away from the plane of thekeeper. When the tab is entirely within the pocket formed in the 15address plate, the end of the tongue 52 lies beyond the portion 24 andhence is not restrained by it against movement downwardly. VA tendencytoward downward movement results from the downward action of theprojection 51, as well 20 as the camming upwardly of the portion 5|.

Thus, under the combined action of the inclined surface 25 and theprojection 51, the free end of the tongue comes into abutting relanonwith the edge of the 'depressed Zone 24, thus 25 locking the tab againstremoval until the tongue again is forced out of abutment with theportion 24.

The channel 3| connecting the sides 35 of adjacent keepers IB has itsdeepest point substan- 30 tially at its center, as indicate-d at 60 inFig. 4. This formation of the channel allows the operator to insert histhumb nail across the bounding sides 35, and to bear against the tongue52 to force it up out of abutment with the edge 35 24 and allow theremoval of the tab. This channel formation allows braces to thesuccessive keepers.

Compactness is desired in this address plate, which means, among otherthings, that a plate 40 as flat as practicable is desired. As heretoforedescribed, the tab and card retaining means are made as compact as theirrequirement will permit. On the opposite sides of the plate there is aslightly raised marginal portion, which is 45 bent over to form the edge65. This bent-over edge is adapted to lie in the resulting longitudinalrecess on the face side of the plate. In the same way the guide rails22, which are used to position the plate,'are so constructed, by vir- 50tue of a rear raised margin alongthe ends of the plate, that they attainlittle vertical height above the face of the plate, and still havesufficient size for effective engagement by the feeding mechanism of theprinting machine. As 55 shown in Fig. 8, the marginal portions 43 meetthe marginal portion 66 to form a continuous reinforce around the threesides of the address plate not adjacent the tab retaining means.

The possibility of embossing characters directly on the address plate isof advantage, as it eliminates the necessity for separate embossedaddress plates fastened thereto. Such characters are embossed in thecentral ilat portion Il, on either side thereof, as desired. In thepresent embodiment of my invention it is preferable, however, to havethese characters embossed so that they are printed from the side or faceexhibited in Fig. 2,-that is, the side opposite the 70 guide rail 22.

From a perusal of the specification and an examination of the drawing,it will be apparent that my address plate incorporates severaladvantageous features not heretofore used. Means lare provided by whicha suitabl-e index tab may be mounted in the address plate, as .well asa' suitable card for indexing purposes, each mounted in such a way asnot to interferewith the other, either while in position or while oneVor both are being positioned in the plate. Further, I provide arecesse-d portion which is adapted to include therein a means forretaining both the card index and the metal tab member, preventing theprotrusion of the card above the surface of the plate. My invention alsoincludes very eiIective means for locking the index tab rmly in positionin any desired pocket of the address plate, such locking preventing itsremoval except as desired by the user.

As a result of the structure herein described, a relatively flat plate.is obtained, which permits the stacking of a greater number of platesthan was heretofore possible, and at the same time entanglement of oneplate with another is prevented, due to the few exposed edges.

It should be noted that although the two factors of the inclined surfaceand the projection associated with each keeper cooperate in theembodiment shown to cause the angular position of the tongueautomatically upon the insertion of the tab, and While I regard suchconjoint use as preferable, the tongue might be bent from the normalplane of the tab by the employment of the projection alone. An inclinedcamming surface coacting with the end portion of the tab to bend thetongue is describedv and claimed in my copending application No.612,957, led May 23, 1932. A division of that application Ser. No.48,670, led November '7, 1935, for an index tab claims the tab itself,as shown herein.

I claim:

l. A plate having a depression extending along the plate adjacent oneedge, a row of raised keepers within the depression, openings in thewallof the depression in registration with the keepers,Y

and means for holding an index card in the depression and over thekeepers.

2. In a device of the characterY described the combination of a plateadapted to carry printing characters, said plate being formed with alongitudinal depression parallel with and adjacent to the upper edge, akrow of raised keepers in said depression open at their top Vand bottomedges, and a row of openings through the topwall of the depressionregistering with the keepers, whereby an index tab may be` inserted fromabove with its shank extending through one'of said openings and beneaththe correspondingkeeper and an index card may occupy the depression andrest on the keepers, the plate being formed with means to overhang theindex card at its upper and lower edges.

3. A plate arranged to carry printing characters and having alongitudinal depression adjacent one edge, an opening inY one end of thedepression whereby an index card may be slid longitudinally into thedepression, an abutment at the other end of he depression to stop theindex card, and a diagonal opening at the latter end of the depressionenabling a corner of the. index card to pass to the rear of the plate.

4. The combination with a plate having a row of keepers parallel withone edge, each keeper having a projection on its rear face, and an indextab adapted to be inserted in any keeper and having a spring tongueadapted to engage the projection when the tab is inserted, whereby thetongue may be bent lfrom the plane of the tab into position-to engage ashoulder on the plate adjacent the rear side of the tab.

V5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a platehaving a longitudinal depression formed therein adjacent one edge, a rowof keepers upset from the bottom of thevdepression, there being openingsthrough the offset walls of the depression registering with the keepers,whereby the shank of a tab may be inserted beneath any keeper, thebottom of the depression on that side of the keepers distant from theplate edge being inclined upwardly toward the body of the plate, saidinclined surface being adapted to coact with the tab to distort a tonguethereon and bring it into registration with the edge of the depressionbottom between the keepers and edge of the plate. i

6. A printing plate having a ilat portion, adapted to have. embossedthereon type characters and a depressed portion adapted to contain anindex card and a tab embodying a tongue, a tab retainingmeans includinga keeper for the tab interposed between the portion of the depression toreceive the tab and the portion to receive the index card and comprisinga section of said plate, said. section having on its underside aprojection adapted to engage said tongue, said tab retaining meansincluding an .edge and an inclined surface to coop-crate with saidprojection to top and bottom edges. of the keepers to allow the Ypassage of a tab shank, there being` openings through the offset wallsof the depression above said Zones and in registration with openings ofthe keepers, the depressed Zone on thatV side of the keeper distant fromthe plate edge being inclined upwardly toward the body of the plate andthe keeper having on its underside a downward projection adjacent theinclined Zone, said inclined Zone and projection cooperating to distortthe tongue of an inserted tab and bring it into registration with theedge of the depressed zone between the keepers and edge of the plate.

8, In a printing device of the character described, the combination of aplate having a row of keepers adjacent one edge, each keeper comprisingan upstanding loop and portions connecting its ends with the plate,there being openings at the top and bottom edges of the keepers to allowthe passage of a tab shank, means to divert a tongue on the shank of thetab upon its insertion to bring the end of the tongue on the shank intoregistration with a shoulder of the plate behind the keeper, adjacentkeepers being connected by upwardly bowed portions of the plate whichleave on the rear side of the plate longitudinal recesses enablingconvenient access for pressing against the tongue of the tab.

9. A plate having longitudinal depression formed in one face thereofadjacent the top edge, with means on the plate overhanging thedepression at the upper and lower edges thereof, a row of upstandingkeepers in the depression rising to a less height than the under face ofsaid overhanging means, an index tab having its shank mounted in thedepressio-n beneath one of the keepers and an index card mounted in thedepression above the keepers and below said overhanging means.

10. A plate having a longitudinal depression formed in one face thereofadjacent the top edge, with means on the plate overhanging thedepression at the upper and lower edges thereof, a row of upstandingkeepers in the depression rising to a less height than the underface ofsaid overhanging means, each keeper having a projection on its underface, an index tab having its shank mounted in the depression beneathone of the keepers and an index card mounted in the depression above thekeepers and below said overhanging means, said tab having a tongueautomatically bent toward the rear by said projection upon insertion ofthe tab, so that the tongue stands in registration with the base of thedepression between the corresponding keeper and the top edge of theplate.

11. A printing plate having a depressed region' and means for retainingthereon both an index tab and a surmounting index card, said meansincluding a row of keepers raised from the bottom of the depression andlocated entirely behind the face plane of the plate, together with meansacting automatically consequent upon the insertion of the tab to retainsaid tab in said plate.

12. The combination with a tab having a tongue of a printing devicehaving means to retain such tab thereon comprising a at plate portion,an upstanding keeper integral with said plate portion, and anindentation in the front face of said keeper causing a projection on therear face, said projection being positioned to forceY thc tongue of saidtab when behind the keeper into abutting registration with a shoulder onsaid device.

13. A plate having a keeper raised above the adjacent portion of theplate, and cut free therefrom at one edge to form an opening, saidkeeper having a projection on its rear face, combined with a tab passingthrough the opening into the space behind the keeper and having a tonguenormally in the plane of the tab but deflected therefrom by saidprojection to stand in abutting relation with the shoulder of the plateleft by the raising of thekeeper.

14. In a device of the character described, a plate having a row ofraised keepers adjacent one edge, combined with an index tab having ashank adapted to lie behind any of said keepers, each keeper having aprojection on its under face, and the tab having a tongue which, uponinsertion of the tab, may engage the projection and be thereby forcedinto registration with a shoulder of the plate.

15. The combination of a tab having a tongue and a plate having atab-receiving keeper raised above the adjacent portion of the plate,with an opening into the space beneath the keeper, the keeper having aprojection on its rear face adapted to engage and deflect the tongueonthe tab into abutting registration with the shoulder of the plate leftby the raising of the keeper.

16. A printing device arranged to carry printing characters and having adepressed zone, means to overhang one edge 0f the depressed zone, a rowof raised keepers in the depressed zone, the device having a row of lipsoverhanging the other edge of the depressed Zone, there beingconnections between the lips from the body of the device to the base ofthe depressed zone whereby an index card may be mounted in the depressedZone over the keepers and retained by the overhanging portions of thedevice at the upper and lower edges of the card.

17. A printing device, comprising a plate having a depressed zoneadjacent one edge, the uppeil edge of the plate being bent over tooverhang the depressed zone, a row of raised keepers in the depressedzone, the body of the plate below the depressed zone having a row oflips individually in alignment with the keepers and overhanging thedepressed zone, whereby an index card may be mounted in the depressedZone over the keepers and retained by the overhanging portions of theplate at the upper and lower edges of the card.

18. A plate arranged to carry printing characters and having adepression extending along the plate adjacent one edge, a row of keepersraised from the bottom of the depression to a less height than the faceplane of the plate and open at their top edges and openings through thewall of the depression adjacent said edge of vthe plate and inregistration with the passages of the keepers, whereby index tabs may bepassed through the openings and beneath the keepers, and means forretaining an index over the keepers and beneath said face plane.

19. A plate arranged to carry printing characters and having means tosupport an index tab having a tongue, said supporting means comprising akeeper upstanding from said plate to leave slots at the upper end andlower end of said keeper whereby a tab may pass therethrough, anabutment on said plate adjacent one slot, and a projection on that faceof said keeper which will be adjacent an index tab occupying said slots,45

said projection being between the slots and extendingrfrom the plane ofthe keeper and thus adapted to engage said tongue and deflect it to lieagainst said abutment.

20. In a plate adapted to carry an index tab thereon, a keeperupstanding from said plate and having a passageway beneath it, flatportions of said plate adjacent opposite ends of said passageway, a tabretained beneath said keeper and bearing against said at portions, saidtab having a tongue, and means carried by said keeper acting to deflectthe tongue of the tab into abutting relation to a portion of the plateto lock said tab therein.

WALTER T. GOLLWITZER.

